Local successes at Navan races

AFTER finishing a close second in the corresponding race a year earlier, Laureldean went one better when winning the October Maiden on the all-flat Navan card last Wednesday.

The Michael Cunningham-trained nine-year-old went down by a neck to Bluebyyou in 2006 when a 25/1 chance, but he was only 5/1 on this occasion as he took up the running two furlongs out under William Lee and went on to beat Mark Flanagan's mount Golden Hare by four lengths.

Joanna Morgan won the opening apprentice handicap when Amy Kathleen Parsons partnered 6/1 favourite Danetime Lily to a half length victory from Marinebird.

Ger Lyons was on the mark in the nursery handicap when seven-pound claimer Martin Lane guided 100/30 chance Dohasa to a length and a quarter win from Marizan.

Frank Ennis won the concluding maiden when Rory Cleary's mount Sunny 'N Smart (7/1) beat 11/10 favourite Sinntaran by a length and three-quarters.

Declan McDonogh took the riding honours when he enjoyed a big priced double for the Kevin Prendergast stable, both of them owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.

His first winner came aboard 12/1 chance Fikrah which took the fillies maiden by two lengths from Crystal Swan and he completed the two-timer aboard Moiqen (10/1) which had a length and a half to spare from Mikhail Fokine.